Fluid propelled articulated scraper for cleaning tubes



April 8, 1947. c M, GRlFFlN 2,418,509

FLUID PROPELLED ARTICULATED SCRAPER FOR CLEANING TUBES Filed Nov. 28, 1944 INVENTOR Cecil M. Griffin Patented Apr. 8, 1947 FLUID PROPELLED ARTICULA'DEDSCRAPER FOR CLEANING TUBES;

Cecil M. Grifiin, Pittsburgh, Pa, Application November 28, 1944, Serial No. 565,452

'7 (llaims.

This invention is for a tube cleaner and more particularly atube cleaner of the type specifically designed to be driven by fluid pressure through a tube, such as a condenser tube, for removing d8? posits from the interior thereof.

The cleaner of the present invention has been especially constructed for cleaning tubes of small diameter, where space limitations do not readily permit use of present commonly used cleaners, although the cleaner of the present application may also be made in sizes for use in larger diameter tubes.

The invention has for its object to provide a cleaner of sturdy construction which has resilient scrapers that may yield where irregularities in the interior of the tube are encountered and which is articulated so as to be less likely to bind or stick'in a tube. Moreover, the cleaners may be blown through the tubes and projected against a stop at high velocity with minimum likelihood ofdamage, so that, while inexpensive, they may be used over and over.

My invention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, full size, of a cleaner embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the body element of one section of the cleaner;

'Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the resilient scrapers;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of theother body member; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view, in another position of the scraper shown in Figure 4.

In the drawings, 2 designates generally one generally as 6 is fitted over the flattened shank 4 of the body, being set astraddle the end thereof. This scraper unit 6 is preferably made of relatively thin resilient metal to ,give1 it flexibility. It, is of a generally U-shaped or V-shaped form having two legs I and the. free ends of these legs are turned outwardly to provide scraper portions 8. The edges of these scraper portions 8 are, rounded to conform generally to the interior of the tube in which the cleaner is to be used. The two legs are connected by the bent portion 9. Each of the two legs 'i' has a hole l2 therethrough for the passage of a rivet as hereinafter described, and there may also be a hole [3 adc1. 15-19mm jacent each scraper: toprovidefor theescapeof material scraped loose by. the. movement of the.

scraperthrough the .tube.

The second bodymember designatedgenerally;

a515, has. a fiat shankv portion Hithrough which is, a hole I]. At its forward end it has, twoexe.

the body members I 5;. One scraper elementd is fitted, over the shank portion of the body. 2

with. the, non-circular end thereof; enteredinto the base, of the V-shaped scraper and the holes l2in the scraper registering with-the: hole 5. in the shank. The two legs 'I of the scraper extend over the fiat surfaces of theshank 4, and diverge,

forwardly therefrom, the flanges 8 projecting somewhat slightlybeyond the periphery of. the circular head 3. The bifurcatedendof the second. body member i5 is slippedlover thisassembly with the extensions I8, embracing the outer sur% faces. of the legs 1, of the first scraper. The holes I9 register with the holes I2, and with the hole 6 in. the body member. The rivet 2! passing through the holes 19, and lconnects the secondbody member tothe first body member, and

holds the first scraper in its place; and, also, gives the articulated construction, with the desired pivotal movement. The second scraper B is, as.previously indicated, placed over the rear end of the,-

fiat body l5; The portion 16 of body I5 isin a plane, perpen dicular to the shankA of the for.- ward body, member or. section. The scraper unit which is fitted over the rear body memberis held in place by a rivet 22; passing throughthe. By reason of the, assembly the two scrapers are angularly d157, placed from each other so as to presentto,

holes; I2; and the hole. ll.

theinteriorof the tube the four scraping edges 8, each. one covering 90 of theinterior of the tubeso that the full-interior diameter of; the.

tube may be cleaned The rivetsconfine the outward spreading of thefscrapers, but because of the resilient construction the scrapers mayyieldinwardly; when they strikean obstruction onthe interior; of: the :tube.

The entire. construction is simple to manuiace. ture and assemble. Itis rugged-and sturdy. The, articulated body is sufiiciently fiexibleiso as to.

minimize thadanger of the cleaner being hung or caught in a tube through which it is. passing. The scrapers 8 are sufiiciently rigid to remove all ordinary accumulations, but as previously explained, they can yield inwardly if an obstruction such as a dent in the tube is encountered.

While I have shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood thatvarious changes and modifications of the particular parts maybe made within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tube cleaner comprising an articulated body having at least two sections arranged in end to end relation and a substantially U-shaped scraper element embracing each section and secured thereto, the legs of the scraper element having outwardly turned blade portions at their free ends, one of said scraper elements being axially displaced 90 with respect to the other.

2. A tube cleaner comprising an articulated body having two sections arranged in end to end relation, a U-shaped scraper member set astraddle one end of each section and having leg portions extending longitudinally over the section on which the scraper is mounted, the legs of the said scraper members having outwardly extending curved blade portions at their free ends, the scraper members being formed of resilient metal, the scraper members of one section being axially displaced 90 with respect to the other.

3. A tube cleaner comprising an articulated body having two sections arranged in end to end relation, a U-shaped scraper member set astraddle one end' of each section and having leg portions extending longitudinally over the section on which the scraper is mounted, the legs of the said scraper members having outwardly extending curved blade portions at their free ends, the scraper members being formed of resilient metal, the scraper members of one section being axially displaced 90 with respect to the other, such scraper member'being secured to its respective body section by a single rivet which passes through both legs of the scraper member intermediate the ends of said legs and through the section of the body intermediate its ends.

4. A tube cleaner comprising an articulated body having two sections connected in end to end relation, each section comprising a flat shank portion, one shank portion being axially displaced 90 with respect to the other, and a scraper element on each section, each scraper element comprising an integral resilient body having two r legs extending longitudinally of the cleaner and set astraddle of the end of the body section on which it is carried, the legs having free outer ends' with outwardly turned blade portions thereon, the peripheral edges of which are rounded to conform generally to the interior of the tube in which the cleaner is designed to be used.

5. A tube cleaner comprising an articulated body having two sections connected in end to end relation, each section comprising a flat shank portion, one shank portion being axially displaced 90 with respect to the other, and a scraper element on each section, each scraper element comprising an integral resilient body having two legs extending longitudinally of the cleaner and set astraddle of the end of the body section on which it is carried, the legs having free outer ends with outwardly turned blade portions thereon, the peripheral edges of which are rounded to conform generally to the interior of 4 the tube in which the cleaner is designed to be used, the scraper elements being secured to their respective body sections by a single rivet passing through both legs of the scraper element intermediate the ends thereof and through the body section.

6. A tube cleaner comprising an articulated body having two sections connected in end to end relation, each section comprising a flat shank portion, one shank portion being axially displaced 96 with respect to the other, and a scraper element on each section, each scraper element comprising an integral resilient body having two legs extending longitudinally of the cleaner and set astraddle of the end of the body section on which it is carried, the legs having free outer ends with outwardly turned blade portions thereon, the peripheral edges of which are rounded to conform generally to the interior of the tube in which the cleaner is designed to be used, the scraper elementsbeing secured to their respective body sections by a single rivet passing through both legs of the scraper element intermediate the ends thereof and through the body section, one of the body sections having extended ear portions which straddle the scraper element of the section forwardly of it and through which the rivet which holds the scraper to the said forward section also passes, providing pivotal articulation of the two sections.

'7. A tube cleaner comprising an articulated body having two sections connected in end to end relation, each section comprising a fiat shank portion, one shank portion being axially displaced 90 with respect to the other, and a scraper element on each section, each scraper element comprising an integral resilient body having two legs extending longitudinally of the cleaner and set astraddle of the end of the body section on whichit is carried, the legs having free outer ends with outwardly turned blade portions thereon, the peripheral edges of said blade portions being rounded to conform generally to the interior of the tube in which the cleaner is designed to be used, each scraper element being secured to its respective body sections by a single rivet passing through both legs of the scraper element intermediate the ends thereof and through the body section, one of the body'sections having extended ear portions which straddle the scraper element of the section forwardly of it and through which the rivet which holds the scraper to the said forward section also passes, providing pivotal articulation of the two sections, one of said body members having a.

disc-shaped portion to provide a piston effect when the cleaner is forced through the tube by fluid pressure.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record' in the file. of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Griffin July 14, 1931 CECIL MVGRIFFIN. 1 l 

